[Heber J. Grant]
Prest. Frank Y. Taylor and his counselor, Edward Anderson called and explained the status of the Joseph Musser case, and Bro. Penrose and I assured them that while we felt that their evidence would not be accepted in a court it was sufficient, in addition to the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord, to excommunicate Musser from the Church. ...
Had a long interview with Bertha Langton today. She confessed to me a few days ago that she had been married by Patriarch Israel Barlow to John A. Burt. I afterwards asked her to repeat what she had said to me to Bertha Irvine, and Bertha took it down and the interview as taken down will follow this page of my journal. ...
Sister Bertha Langton, living at 841 W. 3rd North St., (phone Was. 4994) daughter of Isaac Langton (who was on a mission with President Grant in England) told President Grant in substance as follows:
There is a young sister named Delia Hansen whom she feels is also married to John Burt. She is on a mission in the Central States and she came home on a visit just before Brother Burt left on his mission, and that Bro. Burt spent a few days in the Central States on his way to his mission saying that he was well acquainted with Prest. Bennion.
Another girl named Gertrude Koeber who works in the temple, is thought also to be married to John Burt. Sister Langton had promised not to mention her name, and if inquiry is made in her case, Sister Langton does not wish it to be told that she gave the information. Sister Koeber was told by Sister Josephine Farrell that if she wanted to enter into plural marriage that if she would go to Patriarch Harrison Sperry he would undoubtedly perform the ceremony. After a long discussion she gave her this information.
Lilliam Halstead who lives in the same Ward as Bro. Burt told Sister Langton that John Burt had asked her to be his wife and that she had said no, and Bro. Burt told Sister Langton that when anyone said no he let them alone, and so had not had anything to do with her. But she learned later that he kept after her until she said yes. He said he had a special revelation in regard to Sister Halstead.
Pearl Arrington is a girl in poor health and lives near Twin Falls. She claims to have had a vision that John Burt will some day be the Prophet of the Lord.
There is a certain sister whose first name starts with '1/2I'| and ends with '1/2E'|, whom Sister Langton pledged who would not name, but who is married to John Burt. This girl knows that Miss Langton knows that she is married to John. (Iva Erstin has since confessed to Prest Geo F. Richards)
James Brown said to Gertrude Koeber that if she would convert some girl to plural marriage for him he would be much obliged. He is a temple worker.
Alma Hansen is not a temple worker but is working in the temple. He tried to get a young girl from Canada to marry him and it caused her to apostatize.
Sister Langton says she knows that Josephine Farrell is married to G.A. Hill. She lives at 1336 McClellan Avenue and he lives at 1334 McClellan Avenue. He is engaged as an electrical worker, his office is under Ashton-Jenkins real estate office. They are members of Emerson or Hawthorne Ward. One or two of the Apostles called on her and she announced to them in answer to questions that her relations were her own affair, and that she was to answer to God only. The Bishop of her Ward, when she refused to divulge anything, patted her on the back and said she was a brick, and Sister Langton was told one of the Apostles when she had refused to tell, said, '1/2Thank God, there is one woman who knows her place.'|
Sister Langton said she believed Lillie Shipp was married to John Burt, at least she knew John wanted her. Lillie Shipp sings in the temple choir.
Mrs. Toone is Mrs. _______ Whitaker in the Center Ward.
Gertrude Koeber told Sister Langton who married her.
Sister Langton asked John why he had kept his marriage to other girls from her, and he said the Patriarch told him not to tell. When Sister Langton asked Bro. Barlow if he told John not to tell one girl about the others, he said, '1/2No, I gave him no counsel at all. I did not tell him what to do, I said to follow his own counsel. There are about a dozen girls married to John Burt.'| The Patriarch asked Miss Langton if she knew there were that many and she told him no. Patriarch Barlow performed the ceremony for Gertrude.
Minnie Carpenter of the 19th Ward married a man named Worth _____ , she is a very quiet girl and attends faithfully to her religious duties.
Mentioned Fred W. Miner of the 28th Ward. His wife had told a Mrs. Cottam that he had married another woman in the temple. Mrs. Cottam lives on Sixth West between 2nd and 3rd North Sts.
Miss Langton lives in the 28th Ward. Miner lives on Second North almost to the corner of Second West.
Sister Langton said she had always desired to do right, had kept the Word of Wisdom, paid her tithing and attended to her prayers night and morning, and felt that no one could go wrong under these circumstances.
President Grant took occasion to show her that even those who had had the greatest manifestations had been led away when they failed to listen to the counsel of the servants of the Lord placed at the head of the Church; mentioned Oliver Cowdery having seen John the Baptist, Peter, James and John, and even those who had seen the Savior himself, also had fallen away from the Church. He also told of John W. Taylor seeing the Savior when away in the mountains, where he had gone with the idea that he would be free from religious restraint, and that on his return through the gift of tongues it was made known that he had seen the Savior, and he arose and testified to the fact in fast meeting. How Bro. Taylor followed he arose and testified to the fact in fast meeting.
How Bro. Taylor followed after Moses Thatcher instead of listening to President George Q. Cannon, who had the right to counsel and guide him, and though he was warned by the leading brethren and by dreams and otherwise, yet he followed his own course, which took him out of the church. President Grant told Sister Langton that one living prophet was worth twenty dead ones, and told of Moses W. Taylor who would not be led away even by those who tried to quote the words of his own father to him, and how he became President of a Stake, while John W. Taylor, who had tried to lead him away, had himself been excommunicated. President Grant said, '1/2To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams, and that this was just as true today as it had ever been. Said that a man like John Burt had not proved himself able to take care of one wife.'|
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
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